TORONTO – Kimberley Dej, Associate Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Science at McMaster University, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). Professor Dej will receive a 2016-2017 OCUFA Teaching Award at an October 21, 2017 ceremony in Toronto, hosted by CBC personality Paul Kennedy.

“Professor Dej’s teaching truly embodies her philosophy that every student is engaged and able to pursue their scientific curiosity,” said Professor Judy Bornais, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “Her pedagogy and thoughtful mentoring generates enthusiasm which leads to student empowerment – something that her nominators hold in high regard.”

The other recipients of a 2016-2017 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

Dora Cavallo-Medved, a permanent lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Windsor

Milena Head, Professor of Information Systems at McMaster University

Quazi Mehbubar Rahman, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Western University

Mira Sucharov, Associate Professor of Political Science at Carleton University

The recipients of a 2016-2017 OCUFA Academic Librarianship Award are:

Karen Pillon, Head of Access Services at the Leddy Library at the University of Windsor

Mindy Thuna, Head of the Engineering and Computer Science Library at the University of Toronto

“Professors and academic librarians are at the heart of our universities. They challenge and encourage their students to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Gyllian Phillips. “This year’s distinguished winners are all dedicated to and passionate about their work, and OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians in 28 faculty associations across Ontario.